AN OPEN art competition is giving artists the chance to showcase their talent.

Chelmsford Museum and the Friends of Chelmsford Museum are hosting an Open Art Competition this November.

On Saturday between 10am and 4pm, talented artists can drop in to submit a maximum of two pieces at the Museum, which lies in Oaklands Park, Moulsham Street.

Selected artists will have the opportunity to see their art displayed on the museum’s gallery walls from November 24 to January 13.

Mark Curteis, Assistant Museum Manager at Chelmsford Museum, said: “Over the years, the Museum has displayed work by hundreds of top artists, including John Nash R.A., John Bratby R.A, Alan and Elizabeth Sorrell and Beryl Cooke, to name just a few.

“Now art lovers could stumble upon the next Grayson Perry or Billie Bond as new work by local artists goes on display in the Open Art Exhibition.

“It is always very exciting to see the artists who are out there in Chelmsford and the art they make - whether colourful, surreal, nature-related or geometric. It’s also fascinating to see how they capture something that we may all see every day and take for granted.”

David Jones, Secretary of the Friends of Chelmsford Museum, added: “The last Open Art Exhibition saw 80 pieces of work submitted, which made a great show, and we hope to receive more than that for this year’s exhibition. There was a complete range of works submitted by amateur and professional artists: large and small, landscapes, portraits and representational, so we hope to repeat the diversity again this time.”

Successful artists will be invited to a private view of the exhibition, to be opened by internationally-renowned artist and sculptor John Doubleday.

Artwork to be submitted for the exhibition must be original, two-dimensional, no bigger than 90cm by 90cm, securely framed and fitted by the artist using mirror plates. All work must be accompanied by an application form.

The form and more information, including rules, can be found at www.chelmsford.gov.uk/museums.